I feel obliged to make this post because I need to bring my stituation - and that of others - to the notice of everyone on Steemit. Maybe the community could help me with ideas on how to handle this awkward situation.
A friend of mine first noticed that @spaminator and @mack-bot downvoted my reply on his comments. When I looked at it, that was my first time of noticing it. I shrugged it off as a mistake and forgot about it. But to my greatest surprise, those 2 accounts started downvoting my posts too. From my observation, the two accounts are obviously owned by the same person. And I am not alone in this, when I checked the replies for those 2 accounts, their victims are many - innocent bloggers on steemit that make original articles. So why downvote people's posts when they were not spamming anyone or plagiarising content. Its really disheartening to see someone's effort go up in smoke just because someone has money to invest in Steempower. I cannot fight him on my own and all my pleas - like others - have fallen on deaf ears. I have no other option than to seek the support and suggestion of this amazing community. People that discourage the honest efforts of Steemians do not want the progress of this community and its really dangerous for minnows like us.
If nothing is done here, we will be forced to stop blogging here, but should I give up without a fight? Like I said, I asked him to let me know if I spammed or plagiarized in any way. No response from him other than to continue downvoting my posts. A lot of others that the two accounts downvoted also asked for a reason, but the owner has no reason to give.
So please, everyone, Whales, Witnesses and other influential people on this platform should look into this situation. If you look at my recent posts, I am on a campaign to onboard more people to Steemit. I hope to bring in more people and form a community to encourage and support new people. I make tutorials to teach them how to succeed on this platform. I want to see more activity here and a future where steem grows in value and Steemit becomes a household name. All these nice efforts and vision could be halted on its tracks by @spaminator and @mack-bot. The worst is that he will wait till the posts are few hours to payout, then he will downvote it, giving you no opportunity to make any earnings from that post. Isn't that the height of wickedness and inhumanity?
Call To Action
I need your ideas on how to handle this since appealing to the owner of those accounts did not yield results. If you can, please resteem this post to increase its visibility. Whatever efforts you make to help me - and many others - get out of this ugly situation is highly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for being here for us and supporting us fight abuse, intimidation and freedom of speech!
--- Charles.
My most recent posts downvoted by those two accounts.
Post Link: https://steemit.com/health/@focusnow/keep-you-cool-what-anger-does-to-your-heart-is-terrible
Post Link: https://steemit.com/familysteemiteducation/@focusnow/the-12-lessons-in-life-you-need-to-learnAm not alone in this! Here are the replies of few people downvoted by those two accounts:
Click this link to see the whole replies: https://steemit.com/@spaminator/recent-replies
Click this link to see the whole replies: https://steemit.com/@mack-bot/recent-replies
I fucking hate downvotes
I agree with you, this are the worst thing of steemit
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Dear @focusnow, i suggest you to ask for it to @themarkymark, he is a very effective witness and i had same problem with a crazy user which started to downvote my post just because i was posting an answer to a @berniesanders post, after one week this guy stopped to downvote my posts and everything run normally now.
I suggest to visit his page and in its latest post writing about, but he should be your witness of course...
Thanks for your practical support. I will follow up on that.
Please let me know resulta 🙂
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I am so sorry to hear this. I heard more people are getting downvotes by... and a reason is never given.
What annoys me most of all no one seems to care and you are simply added to a list without checking you out or consulting you first.
@cheetah you might ask how it works?
I find being accused without given a reason/prove and the fact you have to deal with it, figure out how to undo it one of the dirtiest things here.
I hope you find a solutionn (will share the steps you took) and will share it with us. I resteemed and you have my vote.
Do not leave!
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By the time you get to spamminator you have already run a phalanx of curators.
Most have been here from the beginning, or near to it.
https://discord.gg/fmXt87
That is the discord where you should start, imo.
Sorry to hear this, @focusnow.
I'm aware this is a huge problem all over SteemIt these days.
You could try asking in Steemcleaners Discord channel, but if I remember correctly, they don't cover downvotes.
Maybe you could ask @r0nd0n in the @freezepeach Discord server (you'll find a link at the top of the @freezepeach profile page). They deal with downvotes daily... I think that's the best place to get solid advice.
Sincerely, I have followed @focusnow post since I came onboard, it's pure effort and not plagiarism, I came onboard here through @focusnow recruitment campaign. Honestly, Its really painful for ones posts as @focusnow to be downvoted, making the author loose money. If there are disagreements, it should be settled peacefully, instead of downvoting. If this continues, it will lead to the discouragement of many well meaning Steemians like us. This should stop and let everyone enjoy the fruit of their effort.
I am really sorry this is happening to you have you contacted him through the discord? I had this a bit back where are group of people downvoted my content so I stopped and then restarted months later. I really hope you can resolve this matter soon.
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You are not allowed to post on the discord channel. Thanks though for your support.
O right well I hope you get something sorted
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no @focusnow u can post in the discord channel, provided u'd not get blocked by the admin.
I think you should check out steemcleaners on discord and lay your complaint. They have a sction where you can make appeal about mack-boat. Probably someone has reported you based on one or two issues you did.
Just try go there and clearify yourself.
Fount your post via @sirapa resteemed.
Posted using Partiko Android
@simplymike offers sound advice. What are the downvote %? This post has a downvote from mack-bot (I will not tag it) is at 0%. It doesn't actually affect you (as of now) I get a constant downvote from camillesteemer. It's a bogus account. I have never had any interaction with this 'person' to my knowledge. It's been 0% so I am not worried even though it is disheartening. This situation is why I am against HF21 and the downvote process. Most of these bots are run by whales to keep the pool in their favor. I foresee a huge range of abuse incoming. Until this can be controlled it's a recipe for disaster. And trying to reach most on discord they usually will yell at you for posting the channel that is label to post issues. I wish you luck. Would like to know how you prevail.
Thanks friend. The one from spaminator is done few hours to payment so that you dont have options thqn to lose out entirely. I suspect foul play. Why run those accounts under cover? Why not come out and say its from Steemcleaners. Anyway, i have answered the alleged offences of multiple account and plagirism. Am waiting for their response. A lot of things need to be addressed here. They are killing Steem and Steemit.
You're right, I think that's part of the reason Steem is volatile currently. I have seen many bloggers with well established blog come to Steemit and leave because of the plagiarism accusations. Criminals are not forthcoming, they hide and lie, even though being honest is the best way to fight anything you are the one treated like a criminal. Stay Strong. Just keep doing what you're doing. It is honestly the best defense. As long as they don't quiet you, you win.
camillesteemer is such an example of a pest here on steemit. The account used to be a part of a collective called Anonymous Steemit Victims Defence League, who was downvoting people, abusing their huge stakes. The community silenced them by taking away the delegations to the accounts. That's why they're powerless now. Which is a good thing. I've seen those accounts flag a newbie's second post ... that's not the first impression you want to make, right?!
I completely agree with you when you say HF21 is a recipe for disaster. I don't see this turn things for the better, unfortunately. But I guess all we can do is brace ourselves, close our eyes and hope for the best :0/
Nothing like diving into dark water huh? I've seen newbie accounts flagged too. We want people to stay not leave. I wish they would understand this. Keeping this activity up is what creates havoc with the prices. I was so happy to hear when their delegations were removed. It is the next best thing to removing them. If people used flagging or a downvote for what it actually is, things would be fine. Not too much happens that really relies on this process. If you don't agree with someone move on. Or have a discussion to understand. I just can't believe how petty some have become. We have money invested why would anyone want to tear that apart?
I don't get it either. I think in many cases, people are just high on power. Money and power... two of the most vicious drugs in the world.... :0(
You did a right thing. I resteemed it. This is a total mental harassment as well as such a disappointment to our hard work. It have to come to an end. I hope many people sees it and resteem it so that it will reach to the boards of steem and they take the right decision.
Thanks for your motivation. I will never give up until this is sorted out
my experience,
You need to go to Discord,
React to them,
Someone will reply you in about 1 day.
Need them to remove you from their blacklist.
I'm going to struggle with these accounts, which increase the SP and prevent us from developing. The minnow should always be supported.
One of the biggest flaws that I have seen with Steem so far is that they do not take into account abuse & bigotry. We should have the ability to block people if they are harassing us. It's the same big issues that FB and twitter deal with. I was also randomly downvoted but luckily they did not continue to do so. Really sorry this is happening to you, I only ever see you post educational, uplifting content. I don't understand why they would downvote you like that. :/
Blick a person will not stop them downvoting you. It sounds this is automatically done and he is on someone's blacklist for a reason that will never be given.
If you have the power you can downvote and soon after August 27 we all actively do so with those we do not like, are doing better as we do or... (Just out of fun to see how someone respond?).
I find this a serious problem and he clearly does not stand allne here.
If Discord is the solution I doubt. This might be a good reason for many to leave. It is also a readon not to promote this social media platform.
I also wonder where the freedom is. 💕
Please don't state this as 'normal' behavior. That's not what downvotes are for. We both know, but who knows who's reading your comment and gets the wrong idea, @wakeupkitty. Don't put wrong ideas in people's head, plz. It's bad enough as it is ;0(
It is bad enough indeed. This seems to happen more frequently as I thought and from August 27 it does not even cost SP to break someone.
You can not blame me for giving wrong ideas to people. Blame those who came up with this great idea and the one's who agreed with it.
And please tell me how to avoid this, promote a social media platform that claims freedom of speech, where you cannot engage to others unless you can afford it.
I never liked Facebook but today I read too many messages like these. Is this coincidence or?
I am not searching by tags/subject, just click the new posts of that moment.
Sorry, but this all makes me sad and to be honest I do not know what downvoting is for.
💕
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@wakeupkitty, I'm not blaming you... My comment was one written out of fear. I'm so scared about what this free downvotes pool will do to the platform... I'm totally opposed to it, because I don't trust people when it comes to governing themselves, let alone others. They've showed thousands of times they're not mature to handle things like that on themselves.
This situation with @focusnow confuses me, because taken from his comment below, it has little to do with the downvotes I'm so scared about (i.e. the 'loose cannon' downvotes), but apparently is supported by Steemcleaners. I don't know what to think anymore.
About downvoting... I just read this post by aggy that gives a pretty clear explanation of what downvotes are intended for: 'HF21 Training: Go flag someone else!'.
Ass an addon, there's this very smart comment by @bashadow, to which I agree fully. It's not as black and white as people think it is. Deciding whether a post is worth the rewards it gets is very subjective.
To be honest, I don't know. I stopped promoting this platform to the outside world a long time ago. I've done my share to try to give people who couldn't afford it a chance to be heard... I've seen many of those being silenced, both by the system and by the community. If this place wouldn't be such an important part of my life, I would have left a long time ago.
In general, I have the policy to not have any expectations of people. That way, they can't disappoint me. But what I see here is beyond all imagination, and these last couple of months, disappointment has become a part of my life. I lose faith in this place and the community like 5 times a day, and then I really need a post written by people like @tarazkp or @taskmaster4450 to keep believing and to stick around. So far, so good - but HF21 terrifies me big time.
Like I stated above: freedom of speech is an illusion. As long as their are people who are more powerful than others - like in every aspect in life -, and not mature enough to handle this responsibly, there's no such thing.
Btw, freedom is an illusion...
Thanks all for your kind assistance. I reached out to them on discord and discovered that those 2 accounts are from Steemcleaners. But why run those accounts under cover? If not that I spoke out, many other victicms that directly ask the accounts to explain the reason for downvotes get nothing in return and there is no way on earth to know that Steemclearners own them.
Anyway for my own, they alleged that i do mass plagiarism which i asked them to explain. All my texts are mine, use pixabay images if not I put the source. The videos in my posts are from Youtube, i put the source too. So where is mass plagiarism.
Then for multiple accounts, i explained that am building a community. I pay Blocktrades from my account for the new people i recruit. After setting up their accounts, i hand over their keys to them and they start learning and blogging. The new people i get is from Facebook - online. The only way to train them is to make tutorial posts which you will see in my blogs. How is paying for new users accounts from my own account a crime. After building their enthusiasm, they cannot wait for the slow signup process of Steemit. I simply pay for them to get the accounts immediately from blocktrades.
Maybe Steemcleaners looked at my transactions and concluded i was creating those accounts for myself because i return the excess 2.1 steem which is what blocktrades demand when paying for new accounts. I have explained all these to them. Am waiting for their reply. If they understand fine, if not, I stop those efforts. I have a better use of my time.
Since they helped me create this awareness, the community am building is called @chainpower. I have not even written its introduction posts. I run paid promotions with my money on Facebook to recruit new users. I sign them up, train them and onboard them here. Then after these efforts, am accussed of multiple accounts. Irony.
@focusnow, This is really unfortunate aspect and definitely there are BOTS which never makes sense and in a way spreading disappointment and discouragement. Currently i don't have any solution towards it but definitely hope that someone will guide you. Stay blessed.
This is really discouraging, I hope that soon solutions to this unpleasant matter and you can remain calm in this great community!
Very sorry to hear about all this, there are some witness who are very effective in taking this up and they'll see to it that it's rectified, witness like @themarkymark, I hope I get the name correct can surely help.
Also, if the percentage they are downvoting you with is close to 0% then you don't really have to worry. I received the same from one callisteemmer sometimes ago.
yeah those are shitty botes claims to be cleaning the blockchain.
but infact they are indirectly making users leave the steem blockchain..
It was also happened with me my account with 354steempower got depreciated just becoz of this fuckin' mackbot and spaminator.
I showed them the proof that the author has no issues to post their content on steem. then his reply was the author also doing spam (what the f**k??)
well still I say reach their discord channel, might you get help if your content is real..
This post has received a 18.14% upvote from @votecenter
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Glad to know you've received a lot of response via comments. Hope it's sorted soon. Sorry about that
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Do not give up, you have excellent content, I hope this reaches many people and you can solve
It sucks to hear that someone trying to build a community hear run into problems. One very good tip I can get you is to use Dlike.io to post things from other websites. Dlike.io takes 10% beneficiaries. But you almost never gets flagged by these bots when posting trough https://dlike.io
https://steemit.com/ntopaz/@sirapa/ntopaz--sirapa--703130928--ntopaz--2019-08-21-14-59-46--artwork--none
This is a post I just posted and just in few minutes he downvoted me. Guys please let me know is there any mistake of mine. This really demotivates me not only in steemit life but also in real life.
@focusnow did you get any response from anywhere? Do inform me if you did..
I've had down votes before, and i simply request the reason as to why "said person" has Downvoted me and that has always resolved the issue, however im not sure how it works with BOTS, iv'e never, and hope to never have this issue, im sorry for the bothersome activity, the fact that you set a bounty for this and are asking the community for help with extensive reasoning behind your complaint should prove that you are not spamming, or trying to deceive anyone. Best of Luck to you, im sure it'll all work out in the end!
I think that you did well letting to the whole community know what's happening to you. I think we all hate downvotes. We all DO hate downvotes. If I were you, I'll try to contact steemit directly. This kind of accounts don't deserve to be alive.
I'm sorry to hear that such problems still occur on the platform, but I'm glad you brought this in the spotlight.
Is there any way for checking for downvotes only? Or we have to do it 'by hand'?
Cheers!
Lately they are creating trolls accounts that only have one post and they vote negatively to everyone, they should clean those accounts in some way, they also affect me.
I have seen many accounts that only vote negatively, I imagine they will do it for an economic reason, I do not see another, they are robot accounts that are dedicated to that ...